Mwale finishes second at SA event
Chess wizard Joseph Mwale caused a quake in the boots of South African stars on Tuesday when he battled his way to the second slot in the 90-contestant Durban Grandmasters Open Championship.
The event was conducted alongside the World Junior Chess Championships, which saw the country’s flag carriers Khwima Gondwe and Tupokiwe Msukwa finishing 69th and 75th in the boys’ under-10 and girls’ under-16 categories. Each category comprised 100 contestants.
For his achievement, 20-year-old Mwale, who is based in South Africa where he coaches Durban Under-14 chess team and Charts-worth Chess Club, received 5 000 rand (about K200 000).
Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) president Kezzie Msukwa expressed his joy for the success of the former national champion on his Facebook wall: “Congratulations Joseph. I felt good where I sat when the master of ceremony called your name to go and receive your prize as number two. You played well and for Malawi to be called among the 2 000 seated audience was nothing, but soothing. I am proud of you!”
He was, however, optimistic that Khwima and Tupokiwe will do better in the next event since this was their first-ever international appearance.
“Good start for the young ones! Let’s go home kids you will get there soon,” he stated.
Ten-year-old Khwima—who is the current Jungle Pepper Kids Chess champion—won four of his 11 games while Tupokiwe won three matches and drew once.
Indian sensation Nihal Sarin won the World Youth Championship in the boys under-10 category while Drogovoz Irina from Russia did it in the under- 16 girls’ section.
The World Youth Championship is an annual event contested by children within the age ranges of eight and 18. Malawi was participating in the contest for the first time.
